Carton-stapling machine



E. CRA'IG.

CARTON STAPLING MACHINE. PPLICATION FILED 1A I 8. 1,323,965. Patented Dec. 2,1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E. CRAIG.

CARTON STAPLING MACHINE.

Patented Dec. 2,1919.

5 SHEETS SHEET 2.

E. came CARTON STAFLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-17,1918.

1,32 3 ,965. Patented Dec. 2, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3- CRAIG.

CARTON STAPLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION I FILED JAN-17' I918.

3 I @R I L as w Q3 S g] Q II III &

III

Patented Dec. 2,1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4- I I I I I I I I A I III; g 1,;

@1 J I a 9 can? 5" E. CRAIG.

CARTON STAPLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-17.1918.

Patented Dec. 2,1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5- 30 tion with FTQE.

CARTON-STAPLING- MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 2, 1919.

Application filed January 17, 1918. Serial No. 212,161.

I '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD CRAIG, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of St. Joseph, county of Berrien,

and State of Michigan, have invented a cer-' tain new and useful Improvement in Carton- Stapling Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for stapling cartons of that kind in which a row of staples is driven along one corner of the carton,'or in which a plurality of such rows of staples are driven, before the ends of the carton are closed, so that the blank is con- 15, verted into a hollow body having flaps which can be folded together to close the opposite ends of the body, the length of said row or rows of staples depending upon the length of the carton or box. Y

Generally stated, the object of this inven tion isto provide a novel and improved construction for guiding the blank into position to have the two end portions thereof stapled together, one end portionof the blank being 2 folded upon the other, the blank thus folded being moved along in a direction parallel with the overlapping edge portion thereof;

A special object is to provide aform of guide which is adapted for use in conjunceither large or small cartons, and of such shape that, when used in connection with a small carton, the blank can be folded and stapled without breaking or objection; ably bending any of the side walls thereof. Another object is to provide an improved construction and arrangement whereby the use of certain devices and features of con struction heretofore considered necessary will be avoided. It is also an object to provide certain details of construction tending to increase the general efliciency anddesirability' of a stapling machine of this particular character- To the foregoing and other useful ends,

5 the invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and'clairned.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of a stapling machine embodying the principles of the vention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective of a guiding device by which the blank and sheet material is guided into position to receive the staples.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the machine shown. in Fig. 1, showing the folded blank cf sheet material in cross-section.

Fig. 4 is a perspective of one of said blanks after being stapled.

Fig.5 is adetail sectional view of the adjustable pivotal support for said guiding devlce.

Fig. 6 is a cross-section of said guiding devlce, illustrating the use thereof in conjunction with a smaller blank.

Fig. 7 is a plan of another form of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. dis a detail section of a portion of theeonstruction shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

Fig. 10 is an end elevation of the construc tion shown in Figs. 7 and 8. v Fig. 11 is a cross-section of a portion of the structure shown in said Figs. 7,, 8, 9 and 10.

As thus illustrated, the invention comprises a table or body A of any suitable character, and a stapling head B of any suit able known or approved form, supported in any suitable manner above said table. The guiding device comprises a bar C extending under the stapler head, in the direction in which the blanks are moved forward to receive the staples. This bar. is supported by a portion 0 thereof, disposed at an angle of substantially forty-five degrees, and having an upper end portion 1 which is pivotally mounted on the adjusting device D, whereby the forward end portion 2 of said bar (which is disposed directlybelow the staple driver) is adapted to tilt up and down upon a horizontal axis. Said adjusting device comprises a bolt. (1 having relatively large and small diameters .3 and. 4, disposed eccentric'ally to each other, with the larger diameter 3 mounted in a bearing on the lower end of the bracket E, which latter is suitably secured to the stapler head. A nut 5 is screwed onto theend of the smaller diameter of said'bolt, and the larger diameter is provided'with a head 6, and by rotating this bolt the axis of the guiding device willbe shifted or changed, whereby accurate adjustment of-the guiding device for the purpose of properly positioning the clencher 2 below the stapler is obtained. v I i In Fig.'- 4i is'illustrated one of the forms of cartons to be made. As will be seen, the sheet of material is scored and creased to form end flaps 7, and to form side walls 8,

the side wall at one end of the blank being I provided. with a flap 9 to extend inside the other end ofthe blank, whereby a lap-joint is formed at one corner of the carton to receive the row of staples therein. The

blankis fed to the machine by resting the flap 9 on the outer end of the'bar C, (see Figs. 3 and 6) with two of the side walls below this bar, and by resting theother endportion of the blank upon the inclined support 0, the lapped portions ofthe blank being guided below the stapler to receive the row of staples, the endportion 2 of the bar.

C serving-as an anvil J or clench-block. to clench the points of the staples. Itwill be seen that the E inclined support o extends downward directly to' the outer edge of the bar C, without any intermediate connection,

so that in crosssection.the guide is practireally wedge-shaped,having asharp. edge at 11 extending under the upper layer or end portion of the blank. For large blanks, the shape of the guide isnot a inatterof so much importance; but whennarrow blanks are employed, for the making or, smaller cartons, it becoinesnecessary or desirable to provide a guiding deviceliwhich will avoid the danger of breakage or objectionable bendingoffthe sheet material, and folr thisenables the attendant to fold the' blanks snugly aroundthe guiding device without any danger of buckling or breaking the sheet material 1n any way whatever. The

upper flap 01 the blank is held down by the outwardly extending device D, and is thus guided along the top of the angle support 0,

in the manner shown.

' space between thetop'of the barC and the under-side ofthe angle support 0 provides a wide mouth to receive theedgeoi' the fiap 9, and; which acts like a tunnel to tlllS portion of the bla nk into a position on top of the barv Thus the shape of the guiding device and 0 not only renders it more. satisfactory for use in conjunctioniwith both large and small blanks, but also liZLOIllttttQS the insertion and forward feeding "inoyenieiiti oi' blank of any size. To prov de a l3l1111 ,011t61'.

edge 11 which will fit snugly up "into the corner of a folded blank 0i sinall size, the upper support a must be inclined an angle, for if suflieient space is left between a the top ofthe bar C and thelunder-side of thesupport 0,,to permit adjustment and feeding n ove n'ent of the blankkinitlie 16- toward the stapler, sothat thetwo fl-a ps wi ll be glued. together aslwell'asv. stapled to Furthermore, the

sired manner, and with the supports c'in a horizontal position, the outer edge 11 will thenibe too thick to obtain the desirediresult, will not serve the'purpose of the invention; but with this support 0 disposed ate-11 angle, substantially as shown and described, no intermediate connection is neces I sary between this support and the outer edge of the bar C, andconsequently athin edge 11 is obtained which will fit snugly into the 1 'cor ierof even ajs nalleartonj, and in addition a "wide. and flaring nf outh is obtained between the bar O and the Supporto tore-- ceive the lower or underflap of the blank, 1n theinanner shown and ClQSCilbGCl;

always supported, regardless 0r the*size of the blank, and with the blanks ofthe small a a h endedge 1 2 'o f the upper flap-of the blank is i est size this upper fiapwill lie fiat against" the upper surface of. the support 0, in manner that will be readily understood.

As shown in Figs? to 11inclusive, the construct on is as 'l.ollo ws:The guide-bar F has its end provided; with a cleiicli-block '90 or anvil. 7' upon which the staples. are clenched, and this bar issupported bya bracket Gjvliich'has the forty five degree angle portion 9 to support the upper flap 13 of the carton, while the lower flap let is supported upon the top ofjsaid'b'ar. The body portion 15 ofthe carton slides forward upon the table 16,wliich latter may be of any suitable character. 7 From the inclined support 9, the top flap, 13 of'the carton will bend'down and bear upon the lowerfiap' 14,

whereby the two flaps will be stapleditogether. In this case, however, the bracket G is provided with a receptacle'17 to hold glue or paste, or any suitable adhesive, and

witlra rotary ,gli eroll 18 which is adapted to apply the glueorpaste to thefupper surgether. I A spring 19 issuitably mounted on the balf F to hold thelower flap 14upagaii st the glueroll 18 whereby the V g1 ue will be a pplied inthe desired manner. Sprocketchains 20, suitably arranged are pro'vided with n'ieans to feedthe blanks foi 'wardgand said means "may consist of cleats or ushers 21 o saj d, sprocketchains to engage the rear edge of each blank, thereby-to push-the latter forward I in a step-by-step. manner, a As shown, these sprock et-ichains are farranged parallel and mounted on sprockets 22-o a transverse shaft 23 at thefreceiving end Qf the tablep and can be si nilarlysu r ported atthe other end of saidtahleythere ytosartr hei la ks: ti ely ti aIt mach ne. 1 The shaft drives [a sprocket chain 2% connected tof'the transyerse. shaft" 25,- whic-h latter has its 3 outer end 3 provided with gear-wheel 26 to engage the idler 27,-which' latter i ijturn ngages another jl'ace', of the flap 1 21, as the latter IHQVGSfllODgI V idler 28 at this side of the table. Said idler 28 engages the gear-wheel 29 on the shaft 30 of the glue-roll 18, whereby the latter is driven in the desired direction to feed, or assist in feeding, the blank forward in unison with the feeding motion produced by the sprocket-Chains 20, in a manner that will be readily understood. With this arrangement, therefore, the mechanism for applying adhesive is operated by power derived from the devices which feed the work forward. The bar F has a front end extension 31 to support the .lower flap of the blank, and the outer side of the glue-receptacle has a guard 32 under which the top flap of the blank must be shoved forward in order to pass below the gluing device. As shown, the glue-receptacle 17' is provided with a screw 33 which is threaded in a stationary nut or bearing 34:, which nut or bearing is carried by the plate 35, suitably secured to the bracket G, and the unthreaded portion of the said screw, rotates in a bearing 36 on the side of said receptacle. This screw is provided with a thumb-piece 37, or other suitable means for the rotation thereof, and in this way the glue-receptacle 17 can be adjusted toward and away from the'stapler, (the stapler is not shown, but is mounted directly above the clench-bar f) and guides 38 are provided for the glue-receptacle, whereby the latter is movable toward and away from'the glue-roll 18 to regulate the feeding of the glue to the carton blanks. It

will be seen that the receptacle has a slot 39 to feed the glue to the glue-roll.

Also, just above the glue-receptacle, a gage orguard 40 is mounted on the bracket G to extend over the'upper'fiap 13 of the carton blank, so thatthis flap will be held down and guided into position. As shown, the bracket or guiding head G is suitably supported on an arm H that extends a suitable distance from th staplin head, the length'of this arm, and the length of the bar F, depending upon the character of the work and the type or size of the box-blanks to be operated upon by the machine. The portion 9 of the guiding head, and its lower portion 41, like the guiding device previously described, form a wedge having a sharp edge, or comparatively thin edge 42, so that the guiding device is wedge-shaped and adapted to extend in the desired manner between the top flap 13 and the lower portion 15 of the folded carton blank, regardless of thewidth or size of the latter, without creasing or breaking the sheet material from which the blank is made.

The feed mechanism sprocket-chains 20 can be connected for operation in any suitable or desired manner, so that they will operate intermittently to feed the blanks intermittently below the stapler:

comprising the may be produced at a comparatively low cost of manufacture. As previously stated, however, it is also designed to facilitate the manipulation and feeding of the blanks into position to be stapled.

It will be understood that the devices thus shown and described for guiding the folded carton blanks into position for stapling can be used on different machines, and in combination with one or more staplers, as may be required. In Figs. 7 to 11, for example, only one clench block f is shown on the bar F, but it will be understood that in multiple head stapling machines (machines having a plurality of stapling heads arranged in one or more rows) said bar F will have a plurality of these clench blocks. one for each stapler or stapling head. The clenching means, however, can be of any suitable or desired character and" may be provided on the bar F, or on the bar C, in any suitable or desired manner. r

hat I claim as my invention is 1. In combination with a machine for stapling together the over-lapped flaps of a folded carton blank, acombined work-guiding and staple-clenching device therefor, comprising a bar to support the lower flap of the blank, one end of said bar having means for clenching the staples, and a support for the other end of said bar, said sup port extending downward at an angle to form with said bar a wedge that will. fit into the corner between the upper flap and thelower body portion of the blank, so that the upper flap will slide from said support onto the lower flap, and means for mounting said support, the space between the top of said bar and the under-side "of said support forming a flaring mouth to receive the lower flap. I

2. A structure as specified in claim 1, said support having a flat upper surface, dis posed substantially at an angle of forty-five degrees, and said bar having a top surface which is horizontal.

S. A structure as specified in claim 1, said 'means including a pivot which provides a horizontal axis about which the stapleclenching end of said bar is movable upand down.

.4. A structure as specified in claim 1, said means comprising an eccentric device 'for raising and lowering the bar bodily and for permitting the bar to tilt up and down at its free end.

5, In combination with a machine for stapling together the over-lapped flaps of a transverse axis, said pivot having adjustable means to'hold the bar against PlVOttLl movement. r

6. A structure as specified in cla m 5, said pivot comprising an eccentric device for raising and lowering said bar bodily.

7. In combination wlth. a machine for stapling together the over-lapped sections of a folded carton blank, a combined-workguiding and staple-clenchingdevice therefor, comprising a bar to support the lower 7 flap of the blank, one end of said bar having means for clenching the staples, and

' a. support for the other end of said bar,

said support having one portion to extend between the upper and lower flaps of, the

blank, so that the two flaps will restone upon the other on said bar after leaving said support and while being stapled together, and mechanism to apply an adhesive betweenthe-upper and lower flaps before the two flaps engage each other.

8. A structure as specified in claim 7, said mechanism comprisinga receptacle for the adhesive, a rotary member to feed "the adhesive: from said receptacle onto the upper surface of the lower flap, and means to rotate. said member. I V 9. Astruct-ure asspecified in claim7, and work-feeding means to push the blank forward.

.10.-A structure as specified in claim 7, said mechanism comprising a rotary member to apply the adhesive, a shaft to rotate said member, and gearing to rotate said shaft, said machine having awork-feeding device connected to operate said gearing, whereby the operation of said work-feeding device causes the operation of said mechanism.

11. A structure asspecified in claim 7, said' bar havinga spring t chold the lower flap upward against said mechanism.

1 2. A Sl31L1CtU18 as specifiedin claim 7,

and a bracket secured to said support to form a support for said mechanism.-

18. In combination with a, machine. for stapling together the over-lapped flaps of a folded carton blank, a combinedwwork guiding andstaple-clenching device therefor, comprising a bar. to supportthe lower flap of the blank, one end of said bar having means for clenching the staples, and a sup port for. said bar, said support extending downward at an angleto forman inclined supporting surface for the uppeiwfiap 1 of the blank. V v

14. A structure as specified in claim 13, and a guard on said support to extend over the upper flap. j.

15. A structure as specified in claim 13, said inclined surface terminating in a thin lower edge, for? the purpose set forth.

16. In combination with amachinefor stapling together the over-lappedflaps of a folded carton blank, acombined work-guidmg and staple-clenching device therefor,

comprising a bar to support the lower flap 'ofthejblank,"one end of said bar having means for clenchingthestaples, and a support for the other end of said bar, said support having means mounted thereon to feed the blank forward, and having a portion to support the upper flap of the blank in position to moveforward onto the lower flap, so

- thatthe two flaps will then'restone upon the otheron said bar while approaching-th staple. I V, I; 1 i

17. A structure as speclfiedin clann16,

said :feedingmeans comprising .a rotary member to engage thetop surface of the lower flap of the blank.

Signed by me at StJoseph Michiganthis 10th day of January, 1918.

I VVQEDWARD CRAIG. V 

